104 AmaWaterways AmaCerto Cruise Reviews

We chose this cruise line since we'd cruised Tulip TIme about 10 years ago. This time took family on Christmas Markets cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, including pre cruise time in Amsterdam. I needed two cabins so budget was a ... Read More

We chose this cruise line since we'd cruised Tulip TIme about 10 years ago. This time took family on Christmas Markets cruise from Amsterdam to Basel, including pre cruise time in Amsterdam. I needed two cabins so budget was a consideration and AMA was somewhat less expensive than first choice Uniworld. We were not disappointed in the least: the AMAcerto was decked out in holiday finery, staff including cruise director Sonja were top notch, the cabins were lovely and spotless, and the food was a real step up from our prior cruise on AMA and uniformly excellent compared to our experiences on Oceania and Seabourn. Excursions were split up by interest and fitness level (we took a 3 hours power walk through Strasbourg, where other "gentle walkers" needed more assistance. Something to please everyone. Excursions were not overcrowded--probably 20 in a group at most. Local guides were excellent. Some fun on board activities in the evening, everyone in a festive spirit, just a very, very pleasant cruise visiting the beautiful Christmas markets along the Rhine. Everything about this cruise was quality, and I considered it excellent value for money. I'm fussy and have no criticisms at all. We are looking forward to doing the Christmas Markets on the Danube and will definitely choose AMA for that as well as for any other future river cruises. They have really stepped up their game since we did their Tulip Time cruise about 10 years ago. Read Less

For comfort, quality of food and wine, friendly and efficient service it is difficult to decide how AmaWaterways could be beaten. The minute attention to passengers' comfort included bringing round steaming mugs of tea when we were on ... Read More

For comfort, quality of food and wine, friendly and efficient service it is difficult to decide how AmaWaterways could be beaten. The minute attention to passengers' comfort included bringing round steaming mugs of tea when we were on deck on a very chilly morning to admire the most scenic stretch of the Rhine. The itinerary on their Enchanting Rhine cruise is superb, taking in Amsterdam, Cologne, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Heidelberg (or Speyer as an option), Strasbourg and Basel. The guides were entertaining as well as informative and the evening entertainment was excellent, the highlight being a trio called La Strada, featuring two classical violinists. Beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner are part of the package and there was even a beer and sausage tasting session at 10.30am one morning. Attention to detail includes tailoring each city tour according to fitness levels, with bikes available for the more energetic. Read Less

Chose this cruise solely based on recommendation of knowledgeable travel agency insider.Including airfare, was approx $4,800 for single occupancy and air fare for 8 days and 7 nights. My overall experience has been about average especially ... Read More

Chose this cruise solely based on recommendation of knowledgeable travel agency insider.Including airfare, was approx $4,800 for single occupancy and air fare for 8 days and 7 nights. My overall experience has been about average especially considering the premium price for the Rhine River cruise.For example, had to request for bottled water to be replenished, and for toilet paper to be refilled. Room was very clean and all service people were very polite.It was really convenient to get on and off the ship for excursions except there was insufficient free time to shop and also the tour guides gave bad information -- for example, were told that certain shops would be open on Sundays in Heidelberg but the shops were actually closed. Food was delicious but limited in choices and times. Some servers were very friendly and accommodating but others wouldn't bring drink refills in a timely manner. We learned who the good servers were and tried to get in their section. Other issues, when we were on the upper deck, no servers were assigned to get our drink orders. So we would have to go downstairs and get it ourselves. There was only 1 outlet in the bathroom which made it difficult to plug in a blow dryer and flat iron for example. Wifi was very spotty but we were forewarned to expect it. Read Less

Until recently, I had never even heard of Ama Waterways. I have cruised often on the mainline ocean cruises. This year we decided to try out first river cruise.
My first thought was Viking. It's really the only river cruise line ... Read More

Until recently, I had never even heard of Ama Waterways. I have cruised often on the mainline ocean cruises. This year we decided to try out first river cruise.
My first thought was Viking. It's really the only river cruise line that came to mind. However, once I started looking into trip details and prices, I ran across information about Ama Waterways. The price difference was substantial. But the reviews and information I was finding gave me the confidence to book with them.
Though I have often used Cruise Critic to gather information, I have never taken the time to write my own review of any of the 30-plus cruises I have taken since 1978.
In this case, I feel the need to take the time to say a few words about the wonderful time we had aboard the Ama Certo, It is because every time I've spoken with friends about the cruise, they have assumed it was with Viking. Like me, so many people have never even heard of Ama Waterways.
The service from embarkation, to the final day and debarkation was excellent and efficient. The cabin was clean, well appointed and very comfortable. The food was consistently delicious. The excursions were well organized and very interesting. And though the average age of the passengers was, in my estimation, about mid 60's, the activities were geared for a variety of activity ability.
The only area I found a bit mediocre was the nightly entertainment. However, I went to bed happily exhausted every evening after a full day of activity.
I have compared my trip experience with several friends who have cruised with Viking. I haven't heard anything to make me feel it's worth the difference in price. So I am looking now at booking my next cruise with Ama Waterways. ;-) Read Less

I took a group of 26 people on the Enchanting Rhine itinerary. I had sailed this itinerary 4 years ago on Viking and was interested in the difference between the two. Behind the scenes my contact in the groups department set up our group ... Read More

I took a group of 26 people on the Enchanting Rhine itinerary. I had sailed this itinerary 4 years ago on Viking and was interested in the difference between the two. Behind the scenes my contact in the groups department set up our group in the Chef's Table for the night I wanted and it was only us which was nice.
Check-in was very easy and organized. Our sailing had about 130 passengers.
The reception desk staff was very helpful and organized.
The cabin (Cat. C - French balcony) was plenty big and had enough storage. Be sure to look under your bed as there is a large pullout drawer for clothes. The bathroom was small, but big enough to get showered and do what you had to.
The bed was comfortable, but the pillows could be better. Doina was our cabin steward and she did an excellent of keeping our cabin clean and providing whatever we asked her for.
DeJan was the cruise manager and he did an excellent job of serving all different types of people. He organized the tours in the ports and made sure that everyone was taken care of. He responded well to suggestions and made our trip very fun - he even paid for the entertainment to stay onboard overnight so that they could continue with the party. Everyone was dancing and having such a great time that he decided to extend the duo's time on the ship. As a group of 50-55 year olds we really appreciated the fun entertainment that the ship provided on several occasions.
The food was very good and there was plenty of variety. The beer and wine flowed at lunch and dinner.
The best part of this ship, however is their crew. Milosz (bar manager) and Marius (asst. bar manager) really went out of their way to serve. All of the restaurant staff were excellent as well - anticipating your drink order, making special requests, etc.
The captain was also a really nice and professional man. I dined with him at the Captain's dinner and he was funny, knowledgeable and a pleasant person to talk to. The whole crew really does sacrifice a lot to work away from their families and they deserve every tip that they get.
The tours were varied and there was usually more than one per port. We particularly liked the biking tour in Rudesheim through the wine country. It was not hard and the tour leaders did a great job of education us about the region, life in the region, the wine etc. A few of my friends did the hiking tours and really enjoyed them as well.
This is a great company for the younger crowd because there are active pursuits.
Do not hesitate to book a cabin on this ship or cruise line. Read Less

A group of us from church went on this cruise Basel to A-Dam on the AMA Certo and it was great! My wife and I began with 2 days in Zurich followed by 2 in Lucerne Switzerland. Highlights beside the Hotels were the excursions to Rhine Falls ... Read More

A group of us from church went on this cruise Basel to A-Dam on the AMA Certo and it was great! My wife and I began with 2 days in Zurich followed by 2 in Lucerne Switzerland. Highlights beside the Hotels were the excursions to Rhine Falls and then Mt. Pilatus. The cog railway up the mountain was a corker,45-48 % grade in spots.
The river boat is beautiful and the crew is outstanding. We had cabin 313, it was large and we used the balcony daily. Housekeeping was spot on and the wait staff was very accomadating. We did Viking before and loved that too, but we fell AMA is a step up.Wi-fi is spotty and does not work on the balcony and Sundeck which we found was surprising. All in all we will surely consider AMA in the future. Dining was very good. We enjoyed our daily omlets and hot buffets,great variety. Read Less

I have cruised with AMA Waterways before on the Danube two years ago. The food, accommodation, excursions, rooms are all excellent. Complimentary wine of a high standard flows freely at meal times and the staff - who are AMA Waterways best ... Read More

I have cruised with AMA Waterways before on the Danube two years ago. The food, accommodation, excursions, rooms are all excellent. Complimentary wine of a high standard flows freely at meal times and the staff - who are AMA Waterways best asset - are absolutely incredible. They can not do enough to help you and make sure that your cruise is pleasant. This cruise was downstream from Basel to Amsterdam and the weather was hot, hot, hot so we were able to use the on-board pool. The entertainments provided are varied and the resident pianist Zsolt plays to a very high standard - both classical and popular music. Csaba Tamas the cruise manager for this cruise was entertaining, charming and organised. It is perhaps invidious to single out single crew members as we got to know the names of them all during the cruise as the boat numbers about 140-150 passengers but they were all wonderful.
You can tell I'm a fan and no, I am not a staff member of AMA or related to anyone who works there!! I will come back to them again. Read Less

Our travel agent recommended AMA Waterworld for a first time river cruise. My wife was reluctant to go on the trip but the AmaCerto ship, tours and staff made for a near perfect week on the Rhine.
We were pleased to have a choice of ... Read More

Our travel agent recommended AMA Waterworld for a first time river cruise. My wife was reluctant to go on the trip but the AmaCerto ship, tours and staff made for a near perfect week on the Rhine.
We were pleased to have a choice of gentle, regular or active tours plus a bicycle option. It made for smaller tour groups compared to some of the 80+ groups from other cruise lines that we passed. The local tour guides were excellent. The few river port and lock issues were handled by AMA with little disruption to the passengers.
Entertainment is not as important on river cruises due to the higher level of tour activities. Frankly, we were too tired for the nighttime entertainment. The food was very good also. The only criticism was the noise level in the main dining room. This is one problem of having most passengers eating at one sitting which cannot be helped. On the plus side, it showed that the passengers were having a good time with their companions.
River cruises are more expensive but the experience was worth it. We would go again. Read Less

This cruise line was recommended by our travel agent and it lived up to our expectations. The ship was immaculate. The staterooms were comfortable and all the amenities were superb. Having a computer in the room was very nice, but ... Read More

This cruise line was recommended by our travel agent and it lived up to our expectations. The ship was immaculate. The staterooms were comfortable and all the amenities were superb. Having a computer in the room was very nice, but internet access could be spotty. The staff went out of their way to clean the room quickly and conveniently. We went to breakfast and the room was clean upon our return. Laundry service on the boat was very reasonable. We usually had our clothes back in less than a day. The food was very good and very plentiful. There was usually a regional meal choice, but there was always salad, fresh fruit and basics that were always available. The staff in the dining room was great. In fact, the entire staff and crew were wonderful. Friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We spent 4 days in Zurich with Ama before we got on the boat. The hotels were very well located and the planned excursions were well done. Once on the boat, there were always a choice of shore excursions to choose from. Most excursions were in groups of about 25. The guides were very knowledgeable and spoke English well. Read Less

Our travel agent suggested AMA Waterways for our first river cruise. We selected cruising from Basel to Amsterdam with the pre-cruise option that included tours of Zurich, Lucerne and Basel. We pre-paid for AMA transfer from the Zurich ... Read More

Our travel agent suggested AMA Waterways for our first river cruise. We selected cruising from Basel to Amsterdam with the pre-cruise option that included tours of Zurich, Lucerne and Basel. We pre-paid for AMA transfer from the Zurich airport, but it appeared that hiring a taxi on your own would have been easy. You will need Swiss francs.
At our hotel, we were met by our excellent Cruise Director, Csaba Tamas, who gave us an orientation and saw to our every need prior to and during the cruise. We exchanged money for Swiss Francs to pay for small items during our stay in Switzerland. Credit cards were accepted at restaurants, museums and large purchases in shops. Tourist shops will take Euros but your change will be in Swiss francs. Have small change for public toilet facilities.
Hotels: ZURICH: Hotel Continental Zurich – good location, rooms were small, terrific breakfast buffet (included), lunch and dinner on our own
LUCERNE: Radisson Blu Hotel, great location, rooms nice size, wonderful breakfast buffet with a cooked to order omelet station. Lunch and dinner on our own We had a bus and walking tour of BASEL before embarking the AMACerto (excellent)
We were welcomed aboard by staff and given an orientation in the lounge. The cruise director introduced the captain, hotel manager and chef. Each in turn introduced their staff. We learned who to ask for what we needed. Every staff member was courteous and accommodating. We received the "Daily Cruiser" describing the next stop the evening prior. We received live entertaining orientation lectures from cruise director Csaba, who was also available to answer individual questions. I don't think the man sleeps.
Buffet breakfast and buffet lunch with additional options on a menu. There were lactose free, gluten free etc. notations on the menu Complementary wine with lunch and dinner. Dinner was open seating, best to be prompt as there is only one seating. No formal evenings, although it appeared people were dressier for the Captain's dinner and for the Chef's table (make reservations on the first day for this optional intimate dining location with a fixed menu and special service). Late riser breakfast option in the lounge. Afternoon snacks and late evening desserts are available in the lounge. Bottle water provided daily in your stateroom
The excursions were well organized and excellent. Rechargeable head sets are in each stateroom.
Free Wifi and computer-TV with preloaded movies in each room. English speaking local guides at each location. You will need standard two prong European adapter to recharge your phone. You will need a converter if you electrical item is not dual voltage. Hair dryers are in your room. Laundry service is good and very efficient. No dry cleaning service.
Rooms were nice. Keep your drapes drawn as you may be docked during the night next to another river cruise ship who have their drapes open for a full view of the occupants in various stages of dress.
Entertainment from the surrounding area were brought aboard in addition to someone on the keyboard in the lounge
There is a small gym and small swimming pool on the top deck. Deck chairs and lounges filled up fast on cruising days. Hair and massage services were available by appointment.
Watch the weather forecast as the dates of your cruise draw near. We had very unusually warm weather during our trip Sept 7-14 including a heat wave in Amsterdam where school days needed to be shorten. T-shirt, shorts, comfortable walking shoes during the day and nicer resort wear for dinner. Be prepared with outwear and warmer clothing if you plan to include the Mt Pilatus option in Lucerne. Umbrellas, walking sticks to borrow are available onboard if needed.
Disembarkation morning was very well organized by the cruise director, Csaba. He made sure we all got to the airport, train, and various hotels via bus or taxi in the most efficient and least costly manner possible. Truly an amazing feat! A+++ to Csaba and his helper. We were warned that random taxi will charge for a "tour" enroute to your location. Read Less

We were recently on AMA Waterways Rhine River Cruise.this was our first river cruise and were not quite sure if we would enjoy it as much as an ocean cruise. We were on the AMA Certo and it was wonderful. The food, the service, the guides ... Read More

We were recently on AMA Waterways Rhine River Cruise.this was our first river cruise and were not quite sure if we would enjoy it as much as an ocean cruise. We were on the AMA Certo and it was wonderful. The food, the service, the guides were all first class. Our cruise manager Sonia was excellent and attended to every detail.
The ports were very interesting. The excursions were all included and each outing had choices. A guide for people who wanted to bike, a guide for gentle walkers and a guide for regular walkers. It was very organized with many options for a variety of tastes. The cabins very very nice with many amenities and the crew were very pleasant. The entire crew always went beyond to make our cruise a fabulous time the cruise manager, the dining room staff and everyone on board tried in every possible way to please. .Overall it was a wonderful experience and we look forward to the next river cruise. Read Less

We have made 4 river cruises with AMA Waterways and have talked with many people who have cruised with other cruise lines. It seems all river cruise lines are very good. However, from our own experience and from discussions with ... Read More

We have made 4 river cruises with AMA Waterways and have talked with many people who have cruised with other cruise lines. It seems all river cruise lines are very good. However, from our own experience and from discussions with others, AMA is the best. . AMA's food and service seem to be a real differentiator. However, our most recent experience was certainly exceptional.
We did a Rhine River cruise from Basel to Amsterdam this June. Due to high water the ship was unable to sail. This happens sometime, too high or too low. So we were bused to the various sites and ate and slept on the ship for 5 nights. The last two nights were too far from the ship so we stayed in a hotel in Cologne, Germany and then Amsterdam. We were treated very well but it was a disappointment not getting to cruise and having a lot of bus time. However, when we got home we got a very nice surprise from our travel agent. AMA had contacted them and gave us 100% credit towards another cruise. They certainly did not have to do that based on the agreement you sign but AMA is very concerned with Customer Service. We have heard that this is not the norm. So we will stick with AMA for our next cruise. AMA is the best in our opinion. Read Less

We have made 4 river cruises with AMA Waterways and have talked with many people who have cruised with other cruise lines. It seems all river cruise lines are very good. However, from our own experience and from discussions with ... Read More

We have made 4 river cruises with AMA Waterways and have talked with many people who have cruised with other cruise lines. It seems all river cruise lines are very good. However, from our own experience and from discussions with others, AMA is the best. AMA's food and service seem to be a real differentiator. However, our most recent experience was certainly exceptional. We did a Rhine River cruise from Basel to Amsterdam this June. Due to high water the ship was unable to sail. This happens sometime, water too high or too low. So we were bused to the various sites and ate and slept on the ship for 5 nights. The last two nights were too far from the ship so we stayed in a hotel in Cologne, Germany and then Amsterdam. We were treated very well but it was a disappointment not getting to cruise and having a lot of bus time. However, when we got home we got a very nice surprise from our travel agent. AMA had contacted them and gave us 100% credit towards another cruise. They certainly did not have to do that based on the agreement you sign but AMA is very concerned with Customer Service. We have heard that this is not the norm. So we will stick with AMA for our next cruise. AMA is the best in our opinion. Read Less

We did research (both online and with friends) before choosing AmaWaterways and it certainly paid off. AmaWaterways is an excellent cruise line with professional, helpful, and friendly staff/crew, delicious food, and lovely ... Read More

We did research (both online and with friends) before choosing AmaWaterways and it certainly paid off. AmaWaterways is an excellent cruise line with professional, helpful, and friendly staff/crew, delicious food, and lovely cabins/staterooms. Although the Rhine was a bit flooded and we couldn't go on the ship to the last two or three destinations, AmaWaterways arranged seamless transportation by bus. Also, because we had an early flight out of Basel at the end of the cruise and we were not able to dock there due to flooding, AmaWaterways arranged for a beautiful car and drive to take us very very early in the morning to the Basel airport -- about an hour and a half away.
The tour guides were mostly good (there were two who were just so-so) and we enjoyed most of the tours.
I can't say enough about the crew and staff: either they all dearly love their jobs and all the passengers, or they're the best actors in the world! We found them to be extremely accommodating and pleasant and fun.
The other passengers were lovely and the food was really good and plentiful. I especially enjoyed the evening entertainment onboard, especially the 3 piece string quartet.
All in all, AmaWaterways was an excellent choice for us and we'd definitely consider them again on our next cruise. Read Less

Let me begin by saying that I've never written a review on a cruise until now even though we've taken many wonderful cruises over the years all over the world. We decided to try a river cruise for the first time and after ... Read More

Let me begin by saying that I've never written a review on a cruise until now even though we've taken many wonderful cruises over the years all over the world. We decided to try a river cruise for the first time and after reading many reviews settled on AmaWaterway and the ship AmaCerto for a Rhine river cruise.
First the positives: The ship is nice and the rooms were good with a good layout and nice balcony. The crew was very nice and did their best to accommodate the passengers to the degree the company would allow.
Now the rest of the review: if you enjoy a lot of amenities and good food with many choices this is not the cruise for you. You have one dining room that serves average food at best. ( not sure where people who say this is high cuisine have eaten before) but this is not anything close to what you will get on cruises like Oceana or Crystal, etc. they have one lounge area crowded with chairs and occasionally put out snacks but take them up quickly after a short while.
As far as beer and wine, you will get this included only at lunch and dinner with limited choices and then pay the rest of the time. Don't let the advertisement fool you into thinking all drinks are included. To top off our experience one of our guests got food poisoning after the first dinner and was ill most of the trip. After this we decided to eat many meals off the ship as we found the food in the towns to be much better!
Your cabin is nice but to our surprise you will find yourself docking in between boats many times with a view of another boats room within touching distance overnight! This is the case about 90% of the time, so don't think you will be looking at a view while docked.
As far as the cruise, just realize that the idea of a romantic cruise down the Rhine with incredible views is a myth. You will have maybe two half days of incredible views and the rest of the time your looking at industries going down a small canal that was built to accommodate these larger ships. ( Not really the Rhine)! This was very disappointing! We saw castles one afternoon for about 3 hours and the rest was average or poor at best.
The tours that are included are pretty good and they last about 3 hours at each stop. The rest of the time you explore on your own which we enjoyed more.
I've come to the conclusion that it's hard for these river cruise companies to make the financial numbers work with so few guests.( 130-160) per cruise. I think this is why they really can't afford to give the extra luxuries other types of cruises offer but rather depend on the attraction of small crowds and off shore experiences to make up the difference. The reality is that you actually feel more crowded because theirs so little room on these ships in the lounge area. Nothing they can do about it, it's just the reality of the situation.
I realize this doesn't paint a great picture of what people think river cruises are but had I read a review like this it may have helped me avoid wasting thousands of dollars on a trip I couldn't wait to end! As far as river cruises are concerned we are ONE AND DONE! Read Less

This was our first river cruise and we were not disappointed. It was everything we wanted it to be and more. We took a cab from the Basel Airport and was dropped right off at the ship. Embarkation was a breeze and we were in our room ... Read More

This was our first river cruise and we were not disappointed. It was everything we wanted it to be and more. We took a cab from the Basel Airport and was dropped right off at the ship. Embarkation was a breeze and we were in our room with our luggage within 15 minutes. We had room 2106 which had a French Balcony and it was larger than I anticipated. It was perfect. We thought the food was wonderful and the wine pairing they did every night was so good. Also loved how everything was included. As you walked off the ship to do an excursion you were actually given water and not charged! I am so tired off the nickel and diming that gets done on cruises and it was refreshing that it never happened once! It was a perfect trip and we have been on 10 other cruises and I thought river cruising was the best especially with Ama. Read Less

We are a retired couple. We wanted to unpack once and see several places in different countries. Mega ships with lots of activities, multiple restaurants, etc. just don't appeal to us. Our travel agent recommended an AMA river cruise ... Read More

We are a retired couple. We wanted to unpack once and see several places in different countries. Mega ships with lots of activities, multiple restaurants, etc. just don't appeal to us. Our travel agent recommended an AMA river cruise and he was right on! We cruised the Rhine from Amsterdam to Basel. The ship is excellent. Like new condition. We had about 125 passengers. Fantastic crew! Absolutely every crew member just could not do enough for us. Our cabin (we opted for a suite so my wife could have a bathtub) was wonderful. And conversations with other passengers indicated that, if you don't need a bathtub, all of the cabins were exceptionally nice. We also determined that all amenities were available to all passengers, independent of what size cabin you had.
As on most cruises, the food was very good and plentiful. One seating, open seating, sit with whomever you want. No formal evenings. Resort casual wear is perfect for everything. I did wear my blazer a couple of times, but may not take it next time, as we travel very light. Every evening, they brought aboard entertainment from the surrounding area. All very good.
One caveat: there are no activities for kids! This suits us perfectly, but would not suit a family with young ones. There is a small swimming pool on the top deck, but the weather was too cold for us to use it. There also is a running track up top and lots of seating. No need to rush up to grab a chair. We mostly enjoyed just watching the great scenery go by in between the tours of each town where we docked. All tours included in the base price. Local guides were used at each location.
Passengers were from the U.S., Canada, and Chile. All very congenial.
We are already planning our next trip with AMA Waterways! Read Less

I chose the Amawaterways Rhine River based on a recommendation from a travel agent and friend who had sailed with Amawaterways before. We cruised on the Nile about 5 years ago but this was our first cruise in Europe.
We boarded the ... Read More

I chose the Amawaterways Rhine River based on a recommendation from a travel agent and friend who had sailed with Amawaterways before. We cruised on the Nile about 5 years ago but this was our first cruise in Europe.
We boarded the ship in Amsterdam. The next morning we toured the city and went on a boat cruise through the canals. There was also an optional garden tour that day. There were at least two excursion options every day.
Each day we recived a detailed itinerary for the next day and lots of useful information on the excursions with pictures, weather forecast, shopping opportunities, etc. Having that information the evening before helped me maximize my activities. We also received "USA Times", news highlights from America so we felt a little connected to home.
Every aspect of the cruise, from check-in, to the excursions, dining, on board activities, local transportation, disembarking and the optional land tour of Switzerland was well planned and executed.
We hit a bit of a snag due to heavy rains upriver and had to spend an extra night in Mannheim. Without missing a beat our Cruise Manager, implemented Plan B and bussed everyone to Strasbourg so we didn't miss our tour of the city. Because we were so far away from the ship Martina arranged for all of us to have lunch together at a restaurant in town, Le Gruber, the food was fantastic! What a fun day.
The day we cruised down the Rhine Gorge was also a very memorable day. We were given a map with all the castles and ruins along the gorge. In the common areas a running commentary on the history of each point of interest was broadcasted over the PA system so you didn't miss anything. It was cold outside but there were plenty of blankets & hot chocolate to keep us warm.
The ship's staff and local tour guides were all friendly, helpful, and pleasant. We got to know many of our fellow travelers during excursions, lounging in the common areas, and while dining. That part was a little unexpected, and greatly added to our overall enjoyment.
Overall our trip was excellent but I especially want to thank our Cruise Manager, Martina, for all her help. My husband hurt his knee playing with the dog a day or two before we left for Amsterdam. He thought it would get better but instead, it got much worse. The trip could have been a disaster but it wasn't thanks to Martina. Soon after we checked in she was able to get him crutches and moved us to a cabin that was much more conveniently located to the dining and lounge areas. She shopped for an Ace bandage and included a little chocolate to make him feel better. She also arranged for a someone to meet us with a wheel chair at the airport; she was just wonderful.
I would love to do the AmaWaterways Douro River cruise next! Read Less

I'm an experienced ocean cruiser, but this was my first smaller river cruise, and I was unsure of what to expect. Well, it was great! We took the March 30th Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland cruise on the AmaCerto. We arranged our ... Read More

I'm an experienced ocean cruiser, but this was my first smaller river cruise, and I was unsure of what to expect. Well, it was great! We took the March 30th Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland cruise on the AmaCerto. We arranged our flights to Amsterdam and home from Zurich through AMA, but we did not do their extensions, so transfers were not included. That was fine with us. The timing of the AMA extensions didn't work with our schedules, so while we did stay in Amsterdam 3 nights before the cruise, then in Lucerne 2 nights after, this did not coordinate with their offered extensions. (The post-cruise extension offered was for 4 nights, and my work schedule did not allow for that.)
After spending 3 nights on our own in Amsterdam (and falling completely in love with that city) we got ourselves to the boat. That was a little confusing, we were just dragging our suitcases through the train station to the harbor behind. Signage wasn't great, but we just started walking to where we could see several river boats at one end. The AmaCerto was docked at the far right end, behind a couple river boats. It meant we were a little sweaty and bedraggled by the time we each rolled our heavy suitcases that far, but once to the boat they took over. We were met outside by a couple of nice crew members who instantly took our bags from us and let us walk up the gangway unencumbered. Check-in was super fast and easy. Nothing like the slow security line you go through for ocean cruises. Within 60 seconds of entering the ship we had our room keys and were being escorted to our room.
We were in a fixed window, Category D room on the Piano Deck. We were in room 103, with fixed, water level, windows. I went with my normal ocean cruise theory that we would not spend a lot of time in the room, and opted for the lowest level. The room was better than I'd expected. There was a very roomy closet, with plenty of room to hang any and all clothing you want. There were pull out drawers under the beds too, for non-hanging items. Though, because of the underbed drawers, there was only room to stash one suitcase under the beds. The other we stuck in a corner behind a chair. The room was tight, but comfortable. We expected this, we booked it knowing it was the lowest square footage of the rooms on the ship. We are on the youngish side of river cruisers (in our early 40s) so we weren't bothered by squeezing around each other, or even crawling across the bed, when we needed to quickly get around the room. But, I know some less mobile cruisers (such as my parents) would not be happy with such tight quarters. There is only about 12-18 inches from the foot of the bed to the wall, so no room to walk past each other.
Both sides of the bed had bedside tables, each with 2 drawers. Plus, the large windows (and they are large, not just little port holes) had a deep ledge that ran the length of the room. So, we were not lacking for any storage space, or room to set papers, purses, bags, etc.
The bathroom was very nice. The shower stall was a little bigger than I'd expected, and the overall look of the bathroom was very nice. There was almost zero counter space, just a little around the sink. But behind the mirror was a very large cabinet, and another was below the sink. So, while we couldn't leave much out on the counter, it was all within quick reach in a cabinet. In fact, some friends we made that had a larger room 2 decks up came down to see our room. They actually liked our bathroom a little better. Even though they had a long thin counter, they did not have the medicine cabinet or under sink storage. They felt we actually had more bathroom storage than they did.
The ship's WiFi didn't always work in our room. I just assumed the router was probably on a higher deck, and we were just far from the signal. Each room has an Apple computer in the room that can be used for the internet, or switched to TV to watch in-house ship channels or a limited selection of TV stations. Plus some recent movies were available to watch (Jurassic World, for example.)
The ship's crew was wonderful, all of them. It was obvious the cruise director (Frederico) really enjoys his job. He was always nice, friendly, and excited about our next destination. He held a meeting the first full day of the cruise to explain all the stops and excursions. Then, each night before dinner, he would hold a short meeting going over the next day's plans. This kept confusion down, as people could ask questions before the busy activities of the day. And the rest of the crew were wonderful too. We tended to sit in same general area of the dining room, so we saw the same waitstaff all week. We very much enjoyed talking to them, and they took great care of us.
And speaking of the dining room, the food was all terrific! I went in to this thinking there would be less food than on an ocean cruise. And while yes, unlike ocean cruises there was not 24 hour pizza available, or a midnight chocolate buffet, when there was food, there was a lot of it, and it was all good. Breakfast was a buffet with several healthy options (yogurt, granola, fruit, etc) plus some decidedly unhealthy options like sausage, bacon, pancakes, etc. There was an omelet station, and every morning there were some items you could order from the kitchen such as waffles or eggs benedict.
Lunch was also a buffet, with several options that went along with where we currently were. And, like breakfast, there were always some special choices you could order from the kitchen. Then dinner was always a beautiful meal. It was difficult choosing what to order each night, as the options were all so good. Most nights dinner was a 4 course meal (salad, soup, entree, dessert) but a couple nights it was a 5 course, with the addition of an amuse bouche. While they advertised wine and beer with lunch and dinner (which was true) I want to note there was always champagne on the buffet at breakfast. So, anybody wanting to start their day with a mimosa easily could. Then yes, lunch and dinner the wine and beer was freely flowing. The bartender that worked the area we tended to sit quickly learned the type of wine I liked, and the beer my husband liked, and made sure we didn't run out.
We made reservations for one night in the Chef's Table dining room. There is no extra charge for this (like on some ocean cruises) but seating is limited. I HIGHLY recommend to anybody taking an AMA cruise to do this one night. It is an absolutely fantastic meal that should not be missed!
Every port we stopped in, at least one type of excursion was offered. Sometimes as many as 5 options. For example, our first stop in Koln (Cologne) Germany had a city tour. But there were 2 times offered: 9am, or 10am for "late risers." The 10am ended the same time as the 9am, it just skipped some stuff. So, 2 options for Koln. Then at our stop at Speyer, there were several options: 1)Regular Speyer city tour 2)Gentle Walker Speyer tour 3)Heidelberg city tour 4)Heidelberg Gentle Walker tour or 5)Heidelberg hike. That was a LOT of options! We could only pick one! I know it sounds confusing, but this is why Frederico had a meeting every night. This way people knew if they needed to be a "gentle walker" due to lots of hills or steps in an old town for example. Some stops had the option of taking a guided 15-17 mile bike ride around the area. We did not do this, since it they were only recommended for people who ride bikes regularly. My husband does, but I haven't been on my bike for almost 4 years. I didn't feel up to the 15+ mile rides!
We always did the "Active Walker" tours (as opposed to the Gentle Walkers) and we found all the tour guides to be very informative and friendly. The only problem was this was the first cruise using new "QuietVox" listening devices. The guides were obviously using them for the first time, and some cruisers were having trouble with them too. But, by the 3rd or 4th port, most everybody was used to them and had few problems. Personally, I liked them.
There were 3 different musical acts brought on board for evening entertainment throughout the week. The first was a classical trio, that was very good. The second was a singer that we did not get to see (we were docked in Koblenz Germany that night, and my husband and I chose to go off the ship that night and wander the town so we did not see him,) and the third was a French singer with an accordion player as her accompaniment. She was great, and her accordion player very entertaining. We really didn't expect to like the evening entertainment, and we were pleasantly surprised.
As for the AmaCerto, it was a lovely ship. The main dining room was on the level below reception, and above was a large lounge. The lounge was where the evening entertainment took place, pastries were set out for late risers, and where most people ended up when just wanting to relax and watch the scenery. There was always coffee, tea, and cookies in the lounge. There was enough seating for everybody to fit in there at the same time. And the couches and chairs were surprisingly comfortable. A good place to just sit with a cup of tea or coffee and read and watch the scenery go by. I used the fitness room one time, basically just playing around on the rowing machine and treadmill. They room had 2 stationary bikes also, which I did not use. And 3 different weights of free weights (probably 1 pound, 3 pounds, and 5 pounds.) Lemon water and towels were available for those wanting them.
At the end of the cruise, even though we did not have an airport transfer booked with AMA, they still called us our taxi to the train station. In fact, on the 2nd day of the cruise, they distributed forms to all rooms asking how everybody was getting off the ship. This way, nobody was left scrambling the morning of disembarkation. There was an option to check AMA transfer, private transportation already arranged, or a taxi is needed. We checked that box, and on the morning of disembarkation we were on a list with our room number and what time our taxi would be there.
All in all, I would say this was a great river cruise. I'm already hoping to take another river cruise in the next few years. Most likely the Danube or the Douro. We're wishing AMA had some cruises in South America, or even into Alaska (getting further in the fjords than the big ships can go) but maybe those will come someday. Read Less

The trip down the Rhine River with stops at 2000 year old German cities along the way and too many castles to count was stimulating and beautiful. The ship was new, extremely comfortable, food healthy and light ( although one could eat ... Read More

The trip down the Rhine River with stops at 2000 year old German cities along the way and too many castles to count was stimulating and beautiful. The ship was new, extremely comfortable, food healthy and light ( although one could eat more calories without any trouble), a good but small gym and an amazing staff. Everyone was extremely responsive to any logistical request and or maintenance need ( we had a water leak in our bathroom that was fixed within minutes) Departures were arranged with efficiency and no confusion even when fog canceled many flights and required re-booking. The only problem was the low level of the water in the Rhine due to lack of rain so our arrivals were slowed by the necessity of traveling behind other slower ships all using the only available channel with enough water. Read Less

This was our first river cruise - the Rhine River from Amsterdam to Basel. We spent 4 days in Amsterdam and I definitely recommend a few days before embarkation. Jet lag is tricky and we pay so much for the cruise we wanted to truly ... Read More

This was our first river cruise - the Rhine River from Amsterdam to Basel. We spent 4 days in Amsterdam and I definitely recommend a few days before embarkation. Jet lag is tricky and we pay so much for the cruise we wanted to truly enjoy it. We stayed in the Marriott by the docks and loved. We are the type of couple who like to just wander around and we did. Our only scheduled events were the Van Gogh museum (get your tickets online ahead of time) and a dinner cannal cruise (also got tickets ahead of time and we loved it.). Second only to Paris I think Amsterdam is beautiful. Take time to appreciate it all.
The Amercerto
We had an AA stateroom (314) with French and real balcony. It was worth it for us. There was plenty of room, plenty of storage, and we are not tiny people. Be smart and think ahead. We went in October and took lots of UnderArmor. It was the perfect selection. We had jeans washed and laundry was ultra reasonable. We took black pants or black jeans for dinner with long sleeves, collars, and fancy scarves. No fancy clothes necessary.
We spent a lot of time on our own. Our first excursion - Cologne- we went with the guide. Because of low water we were late and missed going into the cathedral. That was a huge disappointment. Other than our Heidelberg Tour, we went off on our own and had a fabulous time. Our guide on Heidelberg was great. We also decided that if something was important, like the Cologne Cathedral we were doing it on our own. We never had trouble finding our way back to our motor coaches to return to the ship.
We loved the Chef's Table, eating there twice. The other dinners were just mediocre to us. Our favorite nights were when we had cheese, crackers, and fruit in our room and watched a movie. Great down time and togetherness.
Our cruise director was very good. We liked his lectures every night. We also found that people who did not know were really at a loss the next morning. One irritating factor were the guests who did not take the QuietVox systems for the tours. The rest of the guests who did listen to the CD and remembered theirs had to wait up to 30 minutes while these others were taken care of.
The staff were unbeatable. One night my husband had back problems and we were staying in out room. I was in sweats getting hot chocolate and at least 4 staff members asked if we were eating dinner and if not going to the dining room could they send a try to our room. And remember there is no room service on AMA! I also loved talking Spurs basketball with the Purser Christian. He was a delight.
My husband has already booked the Douro cruise for next year. What a surprise! I made us go on this cruise and it turns out he loves the life. Believe me when I say you can be as social or antisocial as you want. The cruise is to make of it what you want. Oh, and before I forget, the Rhine Gorge might be the most unforgettable thing I will ever experience! Read Less

This was our 2nd river cruise with AMAWaterways, and just a wonderful as our first. We flew into Zurich, and took the train to Lucerne for two nights pre-cruise. We did it on our own, which was very easy. Then took the train to Basel, ... Read More

This was our 2nd river cruise with AMAWaterways, and just a wonderful as our first. We flew into Zurich, and took the train to Lucerne for two nights pre-cruise. We did it on our own, which was very easy. Then took the train to Basel, where we boarded our ship. We were early, about 11:30, and they said our room would be ready around noon. So, we waited in the lounge until it was ready. Unpacked, and then walked into Basel and had lunch. We were impressed how the entire staff works together on embarkation day. Even officers were carrying luggage. Speaking of staff, they were all fabulous. My husband, has seafood & nut allergies, and they were so careful with the preparation of his food. They had him review the menu for the day each morning, make his selections, and add any item he would like that wasn't on that day's menu.
The excursions were good. Guides were knowledgeable, and towns charming. Our docking locations had to be modified due to celebrations that several of our stops were having, which in result, required more bus time to get to our destinations. We were did their Active Walkers group, which did not seem very active.
Our cruise director, Raul, was wonderful. He gave wonderful port talks, with lots of history. The bar staff, especially Milos, was fantastic. Always greeted with a smile, and eager to be sure you had what you needed.
Our cabin was a C category, with a french balcony. The room was a bit tight, but there was ample space to store everything. Last cruise we were in an A category, which gives a bit more space, which was especially nice in the bathroom.
All in all, we had a wonderful time, and will look forward to our next cruise with AMAWaterways. Read Less

This was our 2nd river cruise and we were traveling with another couple from our hometown. Both cruises were with AmaWaterways, and we were not dissappointed with either cruise. In fact we were pleasantly surprised at the views while ... Read More

This was our 2nd river cruise and we were traveling with another couple from our hometown. Both cruises were with AmaWaterways, and we were not dissappointed with either cruise. In fact we were pleasantly surprised at the views while slowly cruising down the Rhine from Basel Switzerland to Amsterdam Holland. Our Cruise Manager was the best, since his heritage was part German and part Spanish his knowledge of the area couldn't have been more perfect. His sense of humor, story telling ability, managment ability for small issues and calming the tide for those who on occassion run into trying circumstance are to be commended. His ability to know the names of every castle, village, and vineyard along the Rhine made our trip so very educational and of course relaxing while enjoying the views. The ship; AmaCerto was new, clean, well wired with wifi thru-out the ship and comfortable. The dining servers were all very accomdating, friendly, and took care of each of our needs. Read Less

One of the things we liked the most about Ama is the way they cater to all activity levels. We prefer to be active, and they did a great job always having higher energy tour options from biking, hiking and walking tours. However, even if ... Read More

One of the things we liked the most about Ama is the way they cater to all activity levels. We prefer to be active, and they did a great job always having higher energy tour options from biking, hiking and walking tours. However, even if you prefer a slower pace, not a problem, there were excellent options. It certainly felt customized that way. Our cruise was the Gems of Southeast Europe (Budapest to Giurgiu), so it was different than other river cruise trips we've been on. Obviously you're not going to have the same level of sights, beauty and charming villages like you will elsewhere. But, if you are interested in this part of the world, the history and its current place in the world, you'll find it quite fascinating.
Overall, the food was good, at times great, other times just good. They did a nice job incorporating some of the local cuisine depending upon where we were sailing. Shortcomings? In comparing to some other river cruises (and ocean) we've done, it would have been nice to have one more entree choice and one more appetizer. There were some meals where the choices were a bit limited. One meat, one fish, one veggie for mains. Also, desserts were not that indulgent. Maybe a good thing? But, there was a lot of ice cream. Hey, I love ice cream, but it seemed like it was the go to in almost half the meals. Some variation would have been welcome.
The wifi is not that great. That is possible due to our location on the river but it was non-existent quite a bit, or horribly slow. I actually used a Glocal router and had better luck, but that was on my dime.
Most of the staff were great. There might have been a couple of exceptions, but will say there was plenty of friendly, smiling, helpful faces.
One thing to keep in mind. This was different than our other experiences. Ama does try to get you to interact with your fellow passengers. There are basically no 2 top, and very, very few 4 top tables at meals. You will likely be sitting with others. Not usually my choice but have to say, there were great people on our trip and we had plenty of nice conversations. Just know that going in.
We would definitely sail Ama again. The number of excursions and choices of activity levels really won us over. Read Less

After 40 ocean cruises I was looking forward to this experience. We spent several days precruise after flying from Los Angeles. We packed light for us but had to check our luggage anyway on Delta. We began in Brussels, went to Bruges and ... Read More

After 40 ocean cruises I was looking forward to this experience. We spent several days precruise after flying from Los Angeles. We packed light for us but had to check our luggage anyway on Delta. We began in Brussels, went to Bruges and Ghent and then to Amsterdam for another 2 nights in a hotel before embarking. We covered all the major sights and then some. We embarked at 3pm as suggested and went right to our cabin to unpack. We had cabin D105 downstairs (very narrow stairway). The room was quite nice with a large comfortable bed, good closet area, 2 chairs, shower with a rainshower, a TV with movies and a computer which worked best when in port.
At dinner we met some people from California whom we ate with several more times. Dinner was a menu but breakfast and lunch were buffets. We made a reservation for the Chefs Table which I recommend you do right away as large groups traveling together had reserved for several nights. The meals were pretty good, some very good, could have had a better lunch selection. We enjoyed the CD, Peter Whitehead. He had a great sense of humor and was very knowledgeable. The ship itself was beautiful, we enjoyed dunking in the shallow pool on 2 occasions, there was lots of room on the deck during sailing periods, the lounge was lovely. Included wine was just okay and the bar service was spotty.
We had a busy itinerary with very good guides. However there were times we were far from the sights and had to walk long distances just to get on the buses. The entertainment was weak at best. The castles were just a 1/2 day of sailing but we had pretty great weather until Basel. We got off there to catch a plane to Berlin. Not sure I would do another river cruise as I found it to be very expensive and exhausting. Pack for every weather. I had 4 pairs of pants, 2 capri types and 1 shorts with as many tops as I could squeeze in and 3 pairs of shoes. I had a Scottevest, light coverup, a sweater and a packable puffy warm jacket and a scarf. I wanted to burn my clothes about halfway through. We washed stuff out constantly. Read Less